URBANA, Ill. – Behind dominate performances at the plate from redshirt-junior Carly Thomas and freshman Bella Loya and another strong outing from junior pitcher Taylor Edwards, the Illinois softball team opened its Big Ten Conference series against Iowa with a 7-1 win on a sunny Friday (April 20) evening at Eichelberger Field.
With the win, the Illini improve to 28-15 on the season and 7-6 in the conference.
Thomas was dynamite at the plate, registering a 4-for-4 performance that including two doubles and a triple, while also totaling three runs and two RBI on the day. Loya added a 3-for-4 effort with three RBI, while senior Sam Acosta also contributing two hits and an RBI in the win.
Quotable
"We played quality softball today. Carly Thomas was masterful at the plate. What a great way to kick off the Iowa series in front of our Illini fans!" – head coach Tyra Perry
What Happened
The Illini opened the scoring with a four-run third frame as Thomas knocked her second-straight double of the game to plate junior Kiana Sherlund for the game's first run. Loya, senior Rowan McGuire and Acosta then knocked three-straight RBI hits for the 4-0 lead.
After the Hawkeyes (19-23, 5-9 B1G) scored an unearned run on an Illini fielding error in the fourth, the home team responded with a pair of scores in the bottom half of the inning as Thomas and Loya each recorded RBI singles.
Loya then added an insurance run on an RBI single through the left side in the bottom of the sixth, before senior Erin Walker entered in the circle for Edwards in the seventh and capped the 7-1 win with a strikeout.
Edwards (10-7) allowed just one unearned run on two hits and a walk in six innings of work, with Walker gave up one hit and a walk and struck out two in an inning of action.
What's Next
The Illini continues their three-game series with the Hawkeyes in a BTN-televised contest on Saturday (April 21) night at 6 p.m. CT in Eichelberger Field.
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